One of the best things about a holiday to an island paradise is the feeling of getting swept up in the culture of the place you’re staying in, and bearing witness to a festival wholly unique to the culture of the area. Lanzarote’s San Juan Festival is just that: a celebration that occurs every June that includes fireworks, parties until dawn and feats of daring that have to be seen to be believed.
What are the origins of the San Juan Festival?
The festival falls on the summer solstice, the shortest night of the year, and traditionally marks the start of summer for Spanish people and Lanzaroteños alike. It’s a night steeped in superstition and traditional belief, stemming from pagan origins. However, the festival is primarily Christian, celebrating the eve of the feast of St John the Baptist – falling on the 23rd of June this year.
How is it celebrated?
As one of the premier Lanzarote festivals, the San Juan Festival celebrations last well into the night and often until dawn. You can expect to see effigies of ‘El Facundo’ burnt on bonfires across the island, in a summertime parallel to Guy Fawkes Night in the UK. El Facundo doesn’t directly refer to a person, merely the spirit of negativity, so the fire is meant to represent starting afresh with a positive attitude for summer.
Lanzaroteños often combine this with feats of daring such as leaping across lit bonfires, which is said to be a harbinger of good luck for the months ahead, as well as walking barefoot across the embers of the fire. While we don’t necessarily recommend you take part in this aspect of the festival, it’s still a sight to behold!
After the bonfire-leaping is completed, there’s a party that lasts well into the night and through to dawn, so no doubt the sangria and cerveza will be flowing for an unforgettable and utterly unique holiday experience. For a taste of what La Noche de San Juan can involve, this video of last summer’s celebrations on Playa Honda, just down the coast from Arrecife, will certainly whet your appetite.
Of course, it depends on where you are on the island, but you can expect sights such as flare-wielding dancers, tall bonfires and of course eye-popping fireworks displays.
Perfect weather to party
Lanzarote in June is simply glorious. The island benefits from strong Atlantic winds, which means that it stays relatively cool compared to competing resorts on mainland Spain and the Balearics. Therefore, you can expect temperatures around the weekend of the 23rd to be between 25 and 18 degrees, which is perfect party weather.
The best place to stay…
After a long night of partying, you’ll need to do some serious relaxing. Our range of villas in Lanzarote offer just that, with the privacy you just don’t get on a typical package holiday break. With private pools available, you’ll have enough peace and quiet to easily recover from an exciting festival that stretched well past the early hours of the morning.
Inspired to attend this most eclectic of Lanzarote events? Why not browse our full range of villas today and start planning your fiesta-filled getaway to the Canaries’ most gorgeous and culturally vibrant island?
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